Tuesday, July 14, 2009

finally! they're here!

So over the weekend, Steve and I drove out to my cousin's house to pick up my new toys, including MY SEWING MACHINE!!!!!!! Hooray!

Of course, none of these are new, not at all- most of them are maybe 50 years old! I may have mentioned it before, but my cousin's other grandmother (not technically mine, but we were still close growing up) recently moved to an assisted living home, so my aunt has been cleaning out her house, which she and her husband had lived in for all of their married lives- this is also the hosue that my uncle grew up in! When I was home a few weeks ago, we went over to help a bit and my aunt let us take some things. Of course, I couldn't carry it all on the plane, so my cousin brought it back last week, as he drove back with a dining room table!

So finally, here is the long-awaited sewing machine! This is my mother's old one, but still works well and I can't wait to start making things!

Look at this breadbox! I love it! I have no idea where it will go, since I have NO counter space, but I really thought I needed it. I've secretly always wanted a breadbox.

There is also a little drawer beneath.

I know, like I need anymore cookbooks, but these are classics! Both of these were printed in the 1950's, so they are the real deal! Plus, they have Nanny's handwritten notes inside, which I love.

Underneath the Fannie Farmer cookbook is a stack of tea towels, something that I collect, so that was an exciting find.

The meat grinder! I have no idea what I will use this for, but it was too cool to leave behind. Next to it is a pastry cutter, I believe...

Let's see, a strawberry huller, small tart tins, a butter slicer, a honey wand, a butter press, and that thing in the top left corner? I have no idea!

Two teapots!

Gorgeous blue plates. I found eight of them, plus a matching pie plate.

White linen napkins. The ones on the right are embroidered with a C, which is the initial for Steve's last name. I found about ten of those. The ones on the left have pretty embroidery too.

Sterling silver serving spoons. Maybe a copper ladle?

I found other things too that aren't pictured, but these are just the most fun things. I brought back several copper bottom pots and pans, a few baking dishes, another set of pretty desert plates with flower designs and a few other odds and ends. I felt bad about taking so much, but my aunt said that some things would be brought to Goodwill and she knew that Nanny would be happy to know that my sister and I have it. Trust me, there was still SO much that is going to Goodwill! This was all after my aunt and uncle and two cousins went through everything and took things for their homes.

Now I need to find room in my tiny kitchen for these new additions, not to mention find a place for the sewing machine to live!

PS. Stay tuned for a giveaway later this week! Can you guess what it is this time?

the girl

I grew up in New England and now I live in Washington, DC where I work for the federal government. I've lived abroad in Luxembourg, Poland and Canada, and would like to live abroad again. I love to travel and fill my passport with stamps. I read a lot and want to build libraries where they don't have any. I have a lot of cookbooks and love using them. I have an adorable godson named Jackson. I also sponsor two little girls through World Vision; six-year old Majlinda in Albania and two-year old Boikokobetso in South Africa. I love cupcakes, poppies, chocolate chip pancakes, peonies, strawberries and deviled eggs. I collect tea towels, teapots, Boleslawiec Polish pottery, vintage sewing supplies, Peter Rabbit books/pieces and Russian babushka nesting dolls. My two favorite childrens books of all time are Miss Rumphius and The Velveteen Rabbit and I would like to write my own books someday. I'm learning to quilt and have become a bit obsessed with buying fabric! I also love red shoes and wear them frequently. Steve, my boyfriend, keeps me sane most days, except for the ones when he's the one making me crazy! All in all, life is good and keeps me on my toes.